DC Sports Betting

DC promos and bonuses

Just about everyone loves free stuff, and folks from the nation’s capital are certainly no different. DC-based sportsbooks are clamoring to add new customers – and that’s great news for those of you looking to join the fray. Here are the top bonuses and signup offers available in DC:

BetMGM: Up to $1000 paid back in bonus bets

BetMGM offers DC residents up to $1,000 back in bonus bets when they sign up for an account.

For this bonus bet, you only get money back if your first bet loses, and they match your first bet up to $1,000. There are no minimum or maximum odds restrictions on your first bet, which is nice since sign-up promos usually feature those.

DC sports betting quick facts

How to bet in DC

Choose your sportsbook

Consult our top list above for the best sports betting options available to you in DC. Our interactive list allows you to sort sportsbooks based on a number of criteria, including banking options, bonuses and quality of customer service.

If you’re looking for more information before making your choice, be sure to check out our detailed, unbiased reviews for each of the top sportsbooks in DC. This is especially important if you want to understand how each book’s bonus offers work.

Register online or in person

Registration requirements vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.

Deposit and claim your bonus

Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it’s time to make your initial deposit and claim whatever bonus might be available (though the pickings are slim when it comes to inducements at DC sportsbooks).

Select and finalize your bet

Congratulations! You’re ready to place a wager. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app, kiosk or physical sportsbook setup before diving in. Most operators make it easy for new sports bettors to navigate, but it’s still good to know where everything is.

From there, you can place any type of wager you like; the most popular bet types are the moneyline, spread or total. You can also dive into team or player props, or even kick things off with a futures bet.

Once you have the desired wager(s) in your betting card, take one last look to ensure you’ve made the selections you want. If everything is good, simply select “Bet” on your app or at your kiosk, or sign off on your bet at a retail location – and you’re off!

DC legal sports betting history

Here’s a look at DC’s sports betting history:

2018: DC Lottery to Run Sports Betting

Not long after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May, DC Councilman Jack Evans introduced Bill B22-0944. The bill would allow for both retail and online sports betting within the district, while putting the DC Lottery in charge of both regulation and management of mobile wagering.

The bill reached Mayor Muriel Bowser following the addition of three amendments in December 2018, and optimism was high that legal sports wagering would make its way to DC early in 2019. 

2019: Bill Signed Into Law

Bowser did as expected and signed off on Bill B22-0944 in January, setting the stage for legal sports wagering to make its way to DC. Yet, before the bill could formally be signed into law, it would need to gain the approval of the US Congress (a barrier any standard U.S. state would not need to pass).

Congress ultimately saw no issue with the sports betting bill, and it became legal in May. Two months later, DC’s Office of Lottery and Gaming finalized the district’s rules and regulations, opening the doors for legal wagering.

2020: GambetDC Debut Panned

After a number of delays, GambetDC finally made its debut in Washington in May, ringing in the era of legal sports betting in DC. In addition to having launched at a time when COVID-19 had shut down most of the global sports calendar, the app is widely panned for offering some of the worst odds of any operator in the country.

Disgruntled sports bettors finally get another option in July, when William Hill launches at Capital One Arena. Later branded as Caesars Sportsbook, the renowned sportsbook is permitted to take bets either on the premises, or within a two-block radius of the venue – and it immediately overtakes GambetDC as the sportsbook of choice.

2021: Big Players Enter the Space

On the heels of William Hill/Caesars launching its mobile app in DC in December 2020, BetMGM entered the DC sports betting space with the launch of its geo-restricted app and retail sports betting offering at Nationals Park. The two major brands significantly outperformed GambetDC, which held steady with its subpar odds offerings.

Another sportsbook made its debut in 2021, albeit one with a much smaller impact on the DC sports betting landscape. Grand Central Restaurant and Bar launched its own sportsbook within its venue in October 2021, offering two betting kiosks along with a staffed betting window where bettors could make their in-person wagers. 

2022: More Trouble for GambetDC

Another year, another major black mark against GambetDC, with the app failing to work for an unknown number of iOS users before and during the Super Bowl. GambetDC offered affected users a $10 in-game bet for the outage, and paid the district $500,000 in compensation; its reputation took an even bigger hit as a result of the malfunction.

Responsible Gaming in DC

Like most U.S. states, DC has put safeguards in place to ensure that bettors have a way out of any potential trouble spots. 

The DC chapter of the National Council on Problem Gambling (where the organization is based) is the district’s main resource for players who seek help. It provides access to treatment programs, screening tools and a host of self-help resources.

Visit the National Council on Problem Gambling site.

Sports leagues to bet on

It will come as no surprise to see a rather extensive list of major professional and amateur sports available to DC bettors – a list that includes (but is not limited to):

• NFL
• NBA
• NCAA Football
• NCAA Basketball
• MLB
• NHL
• Golf
• Auto Racing
• Tennis
• Soccer
• MMA

That doesn’t leave much off the table, but there are three major markets in which wagering in DC is prohibited:

• Politics
• Esports
• Entertainment (including awards shows)

DC teams to bet on

DC’s unique sports betting regulations make the district’s two marquee sports venues veritable betting hotspots. Fans of DC’s in-house sports teams can not only make wagers within those two sites, they also have access to expansive areas sponsored by a pair of heavy sportsbook hitters and devoted solely to sports betting.

Here’s a look at the three major professional sports franchises that play their home games in DC:

Washington Wizards Betting

Capital One Arena made history on May 26, 2021, becoming the first North American sports venue in history to open a sportsbook on site. William Hill was the lucky operator, signing a 10-year deal with arena owner Monumental Sports; not long after, Caesars took control of William Hill and rebranded the arena in honor of the Roman emperor.  

Washington Nationals Betting

Might the BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park serve as the blueprint for future sports betting bars and lounges at other MLB parks? The pioneering sports bar boasts multiple big screens, six betting windows, 17 kiosks and a 40 foot bar within its 4,000 square feet of space – and with street-level access, it can be open year-round.

Washington Capitals Betting

Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena is a two-story behemoth that also features street access, meaning it can be open for most of the year. A 1,500-square-foot LED screen greets patrons outside the sportsbook – and once inside, they have access to several big-screen TVs along with 17 betting windows and 12 self-serve kiosks.

DC retail sportsbooks

With no casinos or other places to gamble, DC has had to get creative with its approach to sports betting. Third-party sportsbooks can only be set up in Washington’s major sports sites, and can only offer app services within a two-block radius of those venues.

Here are the places where you can bet in-person in DC:

Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena (Caesars Sportsbook, 601 F St NW, Washington, DC, 20004)

Grand Central Restaurant, Bar and Sportsbook (Grand Central Sportsbook, 2447 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009)

Nationals Park (BetMGM Sportsbook, ​​1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC, 20003)

DC sports betting tax & handle

DC is one of the few regions in the United States where the percentage of sports betting patrons using retail locations exceeds that of the mobile wagering audience. And as long as GambetDC continues to underwhelm, that will likely be the case.

Here’s a look at DC’s monthly sports betting handle beginning in 2020, divided between commercial operators and GambetDC:

2020

2021

2022

Sportsbooks pay a 10 percent tax rate on gross gaming revenue to the district.